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Trivia

Robert Redford screen tested for the part of Benjamin opposite Candice Bergen. Redford and director Mike Nicholls both agreed that he wasn't right for the part and that they needed somebody who would look more uncomfortable with his sexuality. Dustin Hoffman came across as suitably "goofy" and got the part.

Charles Grodin was cast as Benjamin, but the deal fell apart following a disagreement over salary.

In Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft 's first encounter in the hotel room, Bancroft did not know that Hoffman was going to grab her breast. Hoffman decided offscreen to do it, because it reminded him of schoolboys trying to nonchalantly grab girls' breasts in the hall by pretending to put their jackets on. When Hoffman did it onscreen, director 'Nichols, Mike' began laughing loudly offscreen. Hoffman began to laugh as well, so rather than stop the scene, he turned away from the camera and walked to the wall. Hoffman banged his head on the wall, trying to stop laughing, and Nichols thought it was so funny, he left it in.

Although Mrs. Robinson is supposed to be much older than Benjamin, Anne Bancroft and Dustin Hoffman are just under six years apart in age.

The movie is full of womb imagery. From Benjamin's constant desire to stay immersed in his parent's swimming pool, to the slow close-up shot of the hips of Katherine's roommate as she brings the "Dear John" letter to Benjamin, to returning to the actual womb of the elder and maternal Mrs. Robinson.

Contributions

rdmtimp (2008-07-03)

Source: not available

Gene Hackman was originally cast to play Mr. Robinson, but Mike Nichols fired him during rehearsals.

Holz (2008-10-10)

Source: not available

Linda Gray was the model whose stockinged leg appeared in the promotional poster for the film.

Holz (2008-10-10)

Source: not available

Became the third largest grossing movie at that time, following only "Gone with the Wind" and "The Sound of Music".